Josh Aviv ’15 B.A. (Econ) is founder and president of SparkCharge, developer of a portable battery for charging electric cars. Aviv, who also holds an MS from Syracuse University’s iSchool, believes consumers play a key role if, through innovation, they are offered clean products they actually want.

Q: To what extent can technological innovation help in efforts to combat climate change?

A: The more products that we can introduce to help further a clean environment and clean air, the better off we’re going to be. At SparkCharge, our mission is to reduce CO2 emissions coming from gasoline generating vehicles by putting more electric vehicles on the road. We’re doing that by removing barriers to owning electric vehicles and improving ease of use.

Q: What’s the biggest obstacle?

A: Fear of change. There’s a large growth curve and learning opportunity that needs to take place. When everyone in your family before you has driven a gasoline car, there’s going to be some anguish, some fear, about changing how and where you power your car. We’re at the point where we’re starting to see that flip.

This article appeared in the spring 2019 print edition of Maxwell Perspective © Maxwell School of Syracuse University. To request a copy, e-mail maxwellperspective@syr.edu.